xPortmea plant named ‘DURALIL’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct xPortmea cultivar named ‘DURALIL’ which is characterized by an elongated compound spike inflorescence, a light pink peduncle and secondary branches, large pink bracts subtending the secondary branches of the inflorescence, secondary conduplicate bracts which envelope each flower bud along the length of the secondary branches, secondary bracts which are vibrant dark red-purple and fading to light pink towards the base, as well as the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Aechmea smithiorum var. longistipitata x Portea alatisepela which is also known by the nothogenus, xPortmea.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of xPortmea disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘DURALIL’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: The xPortmea variety ‘DURALIL’ is the result of a controlled pollination breeding program carried out in 2005 in Alajuela, Costa Rica. The new variety originated as a seedling from the crossing of an Aechmea smithiorum var. longistipitata plant (unpatented), the seed parent, with an unnamed Portea alatisepela plant (unpatented) as the pollen parent. ‘DURALIL’ was first observed in 2008 and was noted for unique inflorescence.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘DURALIL’, by way of mericloning, was first initiated in 2016 at a tissue culture laboratory in Evergem, Belgium. Through five subsequent generations, the unique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DURALIL’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DURALIL’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DURALIL’ as a new and distinct xPortmea cultivar:

-   -   1. xPortmea ‘DURALIL’ exhibits an elongated compound spike         inflorescence with pink peduncles and secondary branches; and     -   2. xPortmea ‘DURALIL’ exhibits an inflorescence with large,         primary bracts subtending the secondary branches of the compound         spikes; and     -   3. xPortmea ‘DURALIL’ exhibits secondary conduplicate bracts         which envelope each flower bud along the length of the secondary         branches; and     -   4. xPortmea ‘DURALIL’ exhibits secondary bracts which are         vibrant dark red-purple and fading to light pink towards the         base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of ‘DURALIL’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Evergem, Belgium. This plant is approximately 18 months old from the time of mericloning, shown planted in a 15 cm nursery container.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliage of ‘DURALIL’.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the typical inflorescence of ‘DURALIL’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements made in April of 2017 describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 18 month-old ‘DURALIL’ plants grown in 15 cm nursery pots at a greenhouse in Evergem, Belgium. Plants were produced using conventional greenhouse production protocols for xPortmea which consisted of regular overhead irrigation and fertigation applications. No pest or disease control measures were utilized in production. Plants were grown under shade (approximately 12,000 lux maximum) and no photoperiodic treatments or artificial light was given to the plants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘DURALIL’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘DURALIL’ and comparisons with the parents and most similar commercial variety are provided below.

-   Plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Perennial; upright monopodial basal rosette             with inflorescences growing from the center of the rosette;             a terminal inflorescence is carried above the leaf plane.         -   Average height from base to top of foliar plane.—61.2 cm.         -   Average height from base to top of floral plane.—66.0 cm.         -   Plant spread.—Average of 107.3 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Moderately fast to fast rate of growth.         -   Plant vigor.—Moderately vigorous to vigorous.         -   Propagation type.—Mericloning.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 14 days at approximately 22             degrees Celsius.         -   Time to produce a marketable plant.—Approximately 18 months.         -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Neither             resistance nor susceptibility to typical xPortmea pests and             diseases has been observed.         -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 10             and 12 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius; high             tolerance to rain; high tolerance to wind. -   Root system:     -   -   General.—Moderately dense rooting; roots are strong.         -   Dimensions, mature roots.—16.5 cm long with a diameter of             0.1 cm, on average.         -   Texture.—Fibrous, non-fleshy.         -   Color.—Brown, nearest RHS N200B. -   Stem:     -   -   Branching habit.—Monopodial; no lateral branches present.         -   Number of primary stems per plant.—None; leaves form a basal             rosette.         -   Number of secondary branches per plant.—None. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Rosulate.         -   Division.—Simple.         -   Dimensions.—69.2 cm long, including the leaf sheath, and 7.8             cm wide.         -   Aspect.—Moderately concave.         -   Attitude.—Arching, with the proximal portion has an upward             and outward attitude, while the distal portion of the leaf             is moderately curved downward.         -   Shape of blade.—Ligulate.         -   Apex.—Bluntly acute.         -   Base.—Sheathing.         -   Sheath.—Dimensions — 13.1 cm long and 10.0 cm wide, on             average. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces —             Smooth, glabrous, and matte. Color — Upper surface — Nearest             to in between yellow-green and greyed-green, RHS 151D and             195B. Lower surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 152D.         -   Margin.—Sharply serrate.         -   Pubescence, texture and luster of adaxial surface.—Glabrous,             smooth, and moderately glossy.         -   Pubescence, texture and luster of abaxial surface.—Glabrous,             smooth, and slightly glossy.         -   Color.—Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — Nearest to in             between green and yellow-green, RHS 143B and 144A. Serrated             teeth along the margin are greyed-orange, nearest to a             mixture of RHS 166A, 166B and 166C. Juvenile foliage,             abaxial surface — Nearest to in between green and             yellow-green, RHS 143A and 144A. Serrated teeth along the             margin are greyed-orange, nearest to a mixture of RHS 166A,             166B and 166C. Mature foliage, adaxial surface — Green,             nearest to in between RHS NN137B and 143A. Mature foliage,             abaxial surface — Green, nearest to RHS 143A.         -   Venation.—Pattern — Parallel. Color, adaxial surface —             Green, nearest to in between RHS NN137B and 143A. Color,             abaxial surface — Green, nearest to RHS 143A.         -   Petiole.—No petioles present, leaves are sessile. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Inflorescence arrangement.—Terminal compound spike.         -   Natural flowering season.—Spring into autumn in Evergem,             Belgium.         -   Flowering habit.—Moderately floriferous.         -   Time to flower—10 weeks after flowering.         -   Flowers per inflorescence.—Approximately 300 unopened buds             and 50 open flower.         -   Height.—46.7 cm.         -   Diameter.—24.7 cm.         -   Attitude.—Near vertical.         -   Peduncle.—Dimensions — Approximately 81.5 cm long and 0.8 cm             in diameter. Strength — Strong. Texture — Densely covered             with stellate pubescence which is colored white, RHS NN155A.             Color — Red, nearest to a mixture of RHS 54A and 54B. -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Ovate; flattened.         -   Length.—Average of 0.7 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.4 cm at the widest point, and 0.3 cm at the             narrowest point.         -   Pubescence, texture and luster.—Glabrous, smooth and glossy.         -   Color.—Violet-blue, RHS 91B, and moderately covered with             small dots which are a darker shade of violet-blue, RHS 90B;             the base of the bud is yellow-green, nearest to a mixture of             RHS 145B, 145C and 145D. -   Flower:     -   -   Flower type.—Rotate, with a single whorl of free petals.         -   Attitude.—Flowers are outward to upward facing.         -   Attachment.—Sessile.         -   Diameter.—0.7 cm.         -   Depth.—2.0 cm.         -   Fragrance.—Not fragrant.         -   Lastingness.—Approximately 3 weeks.         -   Persistent.—Persistent.         -   Petals.—Quantity of petals — 3. Connation — Petals are free.             Arrangement — Rotate. Length — Approximately 1.8 cm. Width —             Approximately 0.2 cm. Shape — Oblanceolate. Apex — Bluntly             acute. Base — Narrowly cuneate. Margin — Entire; moderate             undulation. Pubescence, texture and luster of upper surface             — Glabrous, smooth, and matte. Pubescence, texture and             luster of lower surface — Glabrous, smooth, and matte. Color             when opening, upper surface — Brown, RHS N200A, and margined             greyed-brown, RHS 199D. Color when opening, lower surface —             Brown, RHS N200A, and margined greyed-brown, RHS 199D. Color             when fully opened, upper surface — Greyed-brown, nearest to             a combination of RHS 199A and 199B. Color when fully opened,             lower surface — Brown, RHS N200A. Fading, upper surface —             Not fading. Fading, lower surface — Not fading. Venation             color, fully opened, upper surface — Greyed-brown, nearest             to a combination of RHS 199A and 199B. Venation color, fully             opened, lower surface — Brown, RHS N200A.         -   Spurs.—None.         -   Calyx.—Shape — Rotate. Length — 1.3 cm. Width — Calyx is             flatted; 0.7 cm at the widest point and 0.6 cm at the             narrowest. Sepals — Arrangement — Rotate; single whorl.             Connation — Aposepalous. Quantity — 3. Length — 1.0 cm.             Width — 0.2 cm. Shape — Narrow obovate. Apex — Bluntly             acute. Base — Cuneate. Margin — Entire. Texture and luster,             inner surface — Smooth, glabrous, and glossy. Texture and             luster, outer surface — Smooth, glabrous, and glossy. Color             when opening, inner surface — Violet-blue, RHS 91A. Color             when opening, outer surface — Violet-blue, RHS 91A. Color             when fully opened, inner surface — Violet-blue, RHS 91A.             Color when fully opened, lower surface — Violet-blue, RHS             91A.         -   Pedicels.—Flowers are sessile. -   Bracts:     -   -   General description.—Large, primary bracts subtend the             secondary branches of the compound spikes, with secondary             conduplicate bracts enveloping each flower bud along the             length of the secondary branches. Large, primary bracts —             Shape — Lanceolate. Length — 5.9 cm. Width — 2.5 cm. Apex —             Narrowly acuminate. Base — Bracts are sessile. Margins —             Entire; not undulated to very lightly undulated. Color,             inner surface — Red-purple, RHS 72D. Color, outer surface —             Nearest to a combination of red-purple, RHS 72D, and yellow,             RHS 7B. Secondary conduplicate bracts — Shape — Lanceolate;             conduplicate. Length — 1.5 cm. Width — 0.65 cm. Apex —             Acute. Base — Broad Cuneate. Margins — Entire; not             undulated. Color — Light red-purple towards the base,             nearest to RHS 72D, and becoming darker red-purple towards             the apex, nearest to RHS 71B. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—General — Stamens reduced to staminodes.             Staminode quantity — 6. Anther — Shape — Narrow oblong.             Dimensions — 0.4 cm long and 0.75 cm wide. Color —             Greyed-yellow, RHS 160D. Filament — Dimensions — 1.8 cm long             and 0.2 cm wide. Color — Brown, RHS N200A, and margined             greyed-brown, RHS 199D. Pollen — Amount of pollen — None             present. Pollen color — None present.         -   Gynoecium.—Pistil quantity — One. Pistil length — 1.7 cm.             Stigma — Shape — Club-shaped. Diameter — 0.1 cm. Color —             Greyed-brown, RHS N199D. Style — Length — 1.55 cm. Color —             Greyed-brown, RHS N199A, and fading to a lighter shade of             greyed-brown, RHS N199D. Ovary — Color — Yellow-green, RHS             145D. -   Seed and fruit: Not observed.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT PLANTS

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DURALILI’ differ from the unnamed Aechmea smithiorum var. longistipitata seed parent (not patented), by the characteristics described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Characteristic DURALIL' Seed parent. General coloration of the Pink. Light green. peduncle and secondary branches of the inflorescences. General coloration of the Vibrant, dark red- Pale pink. secondary bracts. purple and fading to light pink at the base. Size of the secondary Larger than those of Smaller than those bracts. the seed parent. of ‘DURALIL’.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DURALIL’ differ from the unnamed Portea alatisepela pollen parent (not patented), by the characteristics described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘DURALIL’ Pollen parent. General coloration of the Lighter green than the Darker green than mature foliage. pollen parent. ‘DURALIL’. General coloration of the Pink. Pink and suffused peduncle and secondary with red. branches of the inflorescences. General coloration of the Vibrant, dark red-purple Pink and suffused secondary bracts. and fading to light pink with red. at the base. Size of the secondary Longer than those of the Shorter than those of bracts. pollen parent. ‘DURALIL’.

COMPARISON WITH THE MOST SIMILAR COMMERCIAL CULTIVAR KNOWN TO THE INVENTOR

‘DURALIL’ is similar to the commercial variety Aechmea x ‘Del Mar’ (U.S. Pat. No. 13,421) in many horticultural characteristics. However, ‘DURALIL’ differs from ‘Del Mar’ in the following characteristics described in Table 3.

TABLE 3 Characteristic ‘DURALIL’ ‘Del Mar’ Foliage size. Longer than ‘Del Mar’. Shorter than ‘DURALIL’. General coloration Lighter green than the Darker green than of the mature ‘Del Mar’. ‘DURALIL’. foliage. Foliage attitude. More upright than ‘Del Less upright than Mar’. DURALIL’. Inflorescence size. More elongated than the More compact than the inflorescence of the seed inflorescence of parent. ‘DURALIL’. Size of the Larger than those of the Smaller than those of secondary bracts. ‘Del Mar’. ‘DURALIL’. General coloration Vibrant, dark red-purple Less vibrant red-purple. of the secondary and fading to light pink bracts. at the base. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of xPortmea plant named ‘DURALIL’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 